10 Things to Ask before Signing a Rental Lease

Ready to move in? Before you sign, take care of your health and your pocket book by asking these questions:

1. If you are paying utilities, what is the estimated cost of utilities each month? How about in winter when heating costs are higher? Often times, you can call the utility to find out these costs if the landlord doesn't know. 
2. Who arranges for and pays for maintenance and repairs? If it is the landlord, how long does the repair process usually take? 
3. What are policies on visitors, pets, and subletting?
4. Has the landlord ever done a radon test, and if so, what were the results? If any results came back 4 picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L) or greater, a retest and mitigation should have been done. If it wasn't done, occupants are at risk for increased chances of lung cancer. 
5. How long ago was the furnace, gas stove, or other combustion appliance tested for gas leaks? 80% of homes weatherized by 4CORE had health and safety issues, usually related to gas stoves, furnaces, water heaters, or other appliances.
6. How old are the appliances and are any of them ENERGY STAR rated? 
7. Is there any mold or asbestos in the home? If so, indoor air quality could be poor and you might not want to move in until these are removed. In addition, make sure that you know about the presence of any lead paint and that work on the home has followed  lead-safe practices.
8. How well are the windows and doors air sealed? This might be something you look for when you go to view the house. If there are obvious gaps, ask them to be repaired before you sign. 
9. Are there any reasons the land lord or property manager would break the lease before it is expired? 
10. Have previous tenants experienced any respiratory-related health problems that you are aware of? 

Other things to consider: 

• Get rental insurance for your belongings- a land lord's insurance will not cover you- just the property. 
• If children or elderly people are going to be living with you, they are at a higher risk for indoor air quality issues. Make sure radon and appliance testing are addressed before signing.

4CORE Launches Home Performance Prescription Program (HomeRx)

4CORE is pleased to announce an innovative program now available for Southwest Colorado homeowners. The Home Performance Prescription (HomeRx) program lowers utility bills by identifying primary areas for home energy improvement, prescribing upgrades, linking area residents with incentives, financing, and contractors, and providing inspections for quality assurance

Building on the success of 4CORE’s HomeRx Program pilot, this initiative is for homeowners who are interested in improving home comfort and making smart investments in proven energy efficiency upgrades. HomeRx offers financing options and local contractors to create a package that pays for itself in a short amount of time. The homes in the HomeRx pilot are saving an average of $481 annually in utility bills, in addition to improving health, safety, comfort, and quality of life for families. 

"Many area residents are paying too much to heat their homes, and a surprisingly high number of homes have serious health and safety problems," said Gregg Dubit, Executive Director for 4CORE.  "We are excited to help area homeowners of all income levels get on the path to higher performing, more comfortable homes. This is an area that 4CORE has solid expertise in, having assisted over 630 homeowners already." 


4CORE will be using the latest diagnostics available from the Department of Energy’s Home Energy Score to evaluate homes. This system scores homes and compares them to national averages. In addition to energy improvements such as air sealing and insulation, HomeRx addresses the health and safety of combustion appliances for gas leaks, performance, and general indoor air quality. Radon testing is also available. 

4CORE’s HomeRx Program links homeowners with financing options, including loans through local lending institutions, rebates, and other incentives. First National Bank of Durango is providing HomeRx-specific loans for homeowners. 

"We are excited to be offering this loan program as part of 4CORE’s HomeRx Program," noted Steve Emrich (NMLS ID # 787887), Vice President of First National Bank of Durango, equal housing lender, member FDIC. "We anticipate this program becoming more popular as homeowners come to understand the value of long-term energy savings."  

In addition to assisting individual residents, the HomeRx Program will benefit Southwest Colorado’s economy by boosting job creation through referrals to local contractors, and saving energy dollars that would otherwise go to providers outside of our region. 

Tom Zajicek, nationally certified building science expert, is coordinating HomeRx and is now taking reservations for home assessments. For additional information or to sign up, please email Tom at 4CORE or call (970) 259-1916 ext. 113.